Jean Kaseya, the Director General of Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), is sounding the alarm over a funding gap that could have dire consequences not only for Africa but for global public health. 

In a forthcoming letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Kaseya will highlight how the pause in U.S. aid and similar cuts by other nations is hampering efforts to control disease outbreaks across Africa, potentially paving the way for a future pandemic that could affect Americans as well.

Kaseya’s concerns extend beyond Africa’s borders. Citing the recent freeze that has left Africa CDC about $200 million short of the $1.1 billion initially pledged, he warned that without sufficient funding, the continent could witness an additional 2-4 million preventable deaths each year from diseases such as HIV, measles, and cholera. “When you don’t open your eyes to something ongoing in Africa, we can have a mutation of the virus that will become a pandemic and affect all of us,” he noted, drawing parallels with the lessons learned during the COVID-19 crisis.

The crisis is exacerbated by regional conflicts. Fighting in eastern Congo, particularly around the Goma region, has not only impeded the delivery of millions of doses of mpox vaccines—some donated by Japan for children—but also disrupted responses to ongoing measles and cholera outbreaks. Kaseya emphasized that these challenges compound the risks of uncontrolled disease spread, underscoring the need for immediate, well-funded interventions.

In his letters to both U.S. and African leaders, Kaseya argues that the health aid freeze is more than just an African issue. It represents a critical juncture where global health security is at stake. While he acknowledged the waiver on lifesaving aid and the support provided by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, he stressed that these measures are insufficient without a full resumption of funding.

The upcoming appeal to Rubio is expected to outline detailed evidence of how the funding shortfall is undermining efforts to contain current outbreaks and prevent future health crises. Kaseya’s message is clear: neglecting the ongoing health challenges in Africa today could sow the seeds for a pandemic tomorrow, with repercussions that extend well beyond the continent’s borders.

As nations around the world begin to reassess their aid commitments, Africa CDC’s call for renewed support serves as a stark reminder that in our interconnected world, the health of one region is inseparable from the health of all.